Multi-pattern spraying apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for dispensing liquid in a plurality of spray patterns includes an aerosol container having an upwardly directed valve stem mounted on its top. An overcap is fitted over the top of the aerosol container and a spray head having a plurality of nozzle outlet apertures, each corresponding to a different predetermined spray pattern is mounted to said overcap for rotational indexing motion and for rectilinear valve actuation motion. THe spray head includes a plurality of inlet ports each communicating with an associated outlet aperture. The inlet ports lie in equally spaced relation to the pivotal axis of the spray head such that when the spray head is indexed to select a desired spray pattern, one of said inlet ports is brought into alignment with the valve stem of the aerosol container. When the spray head is depressed, the valve stem and the inlet port aligned therewith are brought into fluid communication with one another and the valve stem is actuated to permit escape of the contents of the container through the desired nozzle outlet thus producing the spray pattern desired.

United States Patent 1 Jones 1 Jan. 16, 1973 54 MULTl-PATTERN SPRAYING 3,661,300 5 1972 Nigro ..222 402.21 X

APPARATUS Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. [75] Inventor. Gerald D. Jones, Ontario, Canada Assistant Examiner ThomaS C Culp, Jr. [73] Assignee: Imperial Oil Limited, Toronto, On- Attorney-Gipple & Jacobson tario, Canada 22 Filed: June 22,1971 {57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for dispensing liquid in a plurality of spray [21] Appl' 155456 patterns includes an aerosol container having an upwardly directed valve stem mounted on its top. An I [30] Foreign Application Priority Data overcap is fitted over the top of the aerosol container and a spray head having a plurality of nozzle outlet June 18, 1971 Canada ..86141 apertures each Corresponding to a different predetep mined spray pattern is mounted to said overcap for [52] [1.5. CI ..239/397, 222/402.17 rotafional indexing motion and f rectilinear valve [5 Int. actuation motion THe pray head includes a plurality Field Search 339/390, 391, 397, of inlet ports each communicating with an associated 402-11 outlet aperture. The inlet ports lie in equally spaced relation to the pivotal axis of the spray head such that [56] References Cited when the spray head is indexed to select a desired spray pattern, one of said inlet ports is brought into UNITED STATES PATENTS alignment with the valve stem of the aerosol con- 2,887,273 5/1959 Anderson etal. ..222 402.11x taimrwhen the Spray head is depressed, the valvfl 2,997,243 8/1961 Kolb ....222/402.17 x stem and the inlet p aligned therewith are brought 3,083,872 4/1963 Meshberg..... ....222/402.17 X into fluid communication with one another and the 3,198,394 8/1965 Lefer ....222/402.17 X valve stem is actuated to permit escape of the contents 3,l80,536 1965 Meshbel'g --222/ -l l of the container through the desired nozzle outlet thus 3,258,208 6/1966 Greenebaum ..239/397 producing the pray pattern desired, 3,284,007 11/1966 Clapp ..239/397 3,342,382 9/1967 Huling ..222/402.17 9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 16 I975 SHEET 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR. I Gerald Jones,

BY 9 @Wk @fiwm ATTORNEY-5 PATENTEDJAMBIQB 3.711.030

SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR Gard/J D. Jones 9%?! @Wg afflwm ATTORNEYS M ULTl-PATTERN SPRAYING APPARATUS This invention relates to improved apparatus for dispensing fluid in any one of a plurality of different spray patterns.

Over the past several years, various types of fluid dispensers capable of dispensing controlled amounts of fluid in a spray pattern have appeared on the market. Generally speaking, these dispensers include an aerosol container having a pressurized supply of fluid therein and a suitable spray head connected to the outlet valve of the aerosol container and having one or more spray orifices therein adapted to provide the spray pattern or patterns desired.

The particular spray pattern used will, in general, be a function of the intended use of the spray. For certain applications a pattern having a broad spray angle, a fine particle size and a short trajectory is desirable; other applications require a relatively narrow spray angle, a larger particle size and a long trajectory. In other words, for each intended use, there is a spray angle, particle size, and trajectory length which will yield the best overall result. ln certain cases, even though the spray has only one general use, e.g. as a pesticide, different spray patterns are desirable depending on the particular environment in which the spray is being used. For example, when a pesticide is being used in the home or cottage, a fine low-output spray, which does not have large droplets of liquid therein which could miss the target and fall down on counters and tables, is desired. When the pesticide is being used among garden plants, shrubs, and flowers, a somewhat higher output, wetter, insect killing spray is desirable to ensure contact. When the insecticide is being used to fog a relatively large outdoor area, such as a patio, a highoutput, relatively wet spray is desirable to more effectively eliminate pests for a period oftime.

Devices for dispensing fluid in any one of a plurality of different spray patterns are not, broadly speaking, new. Reference may be had, for example, to Colb U.S. Pat. No. 2,997,243 issued Aug. 22, 1961 which discloses a multi-spray pattern device including an aerosol container having a spray head rotatably mounted thereon to permit either fine or coarse spray pattern to be selected. In the Colb arrangement the spray head rotates about the axis of the upwardly directed valve stem on the aerosol container. This valve stem is provided with a radially extending port in its wall adjacent its upper end and as the spray head is rotated about the valve stem this port is brought selectively into communication with an aperture in the spray head capable of producing the coarse spray or alternatively with the aperture for producing the fine spray.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a spray head which may be indexed or rotated about an axis which is parallel to but offset from the axis of the valve stem. This spray head, of course, includes a plurality of nozzle outlet apertures for producing the different predetermined spray patterns, each communicating with an associated inlet port. As the novel spray head arrangement is indexed to the various index positions these inlet ports on the spray head are selectively brought into alignment with the axis of the valve stem. The spray head is also mounted for rectilinear valve actuating motion parallel to such pivot axis such that upon depression of the spray head, fluid communication between the selected inlet port and the valve stem is established with the subsequent consequent depression of the valve stem permitting release of the aerosol contents through the selected nozzle outlet aperture. In the preferred embodiment the inlet ports are spaced apart from one another and lie in a circular arc which is centered at the above mentioned.

pivot axis. The preferred embodiment is also provided with a suitable overcap arrangement which gives the device an attractive appearance. The means for mounting the spray head, in the preferred embodiment, comprise sleeve and axle means extending between the spray head and overcap arrangement and adapted to provide the pivotal indexing movement and the rectilinear movement in the valve actuating motion referred to above.

The apparatus of the present invention possesses a distinct advantage over prior art arrangements wherein the spray head rotates about an axis centered with the valve stem in that the present invention does not require the use of radially directed ports or the like in the aerosol valve stem; in addition, there is no need to provide means for preventing rotation of the valve stem itself. By eliminating the need for-these two features, the cost of manufacturing the aerosol valve arrangement is greatly reduced; furthermore the device of the present invention can be applied to any standard aerosol container having an upwardly directed hollow valve stem adapted to be actuated upon downward depression thereof. These advantages are particularly significant taking into consideration the vast quantities of aerosol devices produced and marketed each year.

A better understanding of the invention and the various features and advantages thereof will be had from the following description of a preferred embodiment of same with reference being made to drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of spray apparatus incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view, in cross-section, of the overcap and spray head;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the overcap and spray head;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 comprise a cross-sectional-elevation view, a frontal view, and a top plan view respectively of the spray head per se.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus shown includes an aerosol container 10 per se of standard construction which contains a suitable fluid therein as, for example, a pesticide, together with a pressurizing agent or propellant, such as Freon" (Reg. Trade Mark). The container 10 has an upwardly directed hollow valve stem 12 located centrally of its top 14, stem 12 being adapted to open, upon downward depression thereof, a spring biased normally closed discharge control valve (not shown) located in top 14 to permit discharge of the contents of the container axially through said valve stem.

Mounted on said container 10 is a spray head 16, the upper portion of which projects upwardly through an opening 18 provided in the top of an overcap 20. Overcap 20 fits over and encloses the entire top portion of container 10 including top 14, valve stem 12 and the lower portion of spray head 16. The overcap 20 is connected to container by means of the annular overcap portion 22 formed on the lower portion of overcap cylindrical sidewall 24 including inwardly directed lip means 26 which engages beneath the rolled edge 28 extending about the upper portion of the container sidewall. Overcap has a frontal outlet opening 27 therein through which the spray exits when the spray head 16 is actuated as hereinafter described.

As best seen in FIGS. 6-8 the spray head 16 comprises a main body portion 30 connected by arm 32 to a relatively short pivot axle 34. Body portion 30 contains three inlet'ports 36 disposed therein whose axes are parallel to the rotation axis defined by pivot axle 34 and lie in closely spaced relation in the arc of a circle centered at said rotation axis. Each inlet port is sufficiently large as to receive and come into sealing engagement with the valve stem 12 of the container as will be hereinafter described. Each port 36 is connected to a respective one of three passages 38 which extend upwardly within the body portion of the spray head 16 in spaced relation to one another. Since ports 36 have greater diameters than their associated passages 38, shoulders 37 are defined therebetween. Disposed in the forwardly directed surface 40 of spray head 16 are three nozzle outlet apertures 42, each being defined by a shallow cup-like depression, in the center of which is located an aperture 44. Each aperture 44 communicates with its associated passage 38 whereby a path for fluid communication between each inlet port 36 and its associated nozzle outlet aperture 42 is established. Each nozzle outlet aperture 42 is designed to produce one of three different spray patterns and this can easily be accomplished by properly selecting the relative diameters of their associated apertures 44. For-example, one aperture 44 may have a diameter of about 0.016 inch to produce a fine spray for use within a home or cottage; a somewhat heavier spray for garden use is provided for by giving the next aperture a diameter of about 0.018 inch, while the third aperture has a diameter of about 0.045 inch to produce a dense, heavy, fogging spray for outdoor use.

As best seen in FIGS. 3-5 the spray head 16 is mounted in overcap 20 such that it is capable of (a) valve stem actuating movement and (b) indexing movement to a plurality of positions each corresponding to a desired one of the three different spray patterns. To provide these two degrees of freedom, overcap 20 has a sleeve means 46 therein which receives pivot axle 34 of spray head 16. Pivot axle 34 can rotate within sleeve means,46 to permit pivotal indexing mo-' tion of spray head 16 and can also move inwardly or outwardly thereof to permit rectilinear, valve actuating, motion of spray head 16.

The radius of the above mentioned circular arc in which the three inlet ports 36 lie is chosen such that any one of the ports 36 may be brought into'alignment with the upper end of the valve stem 12 as the spray head is indexed to different positions. In order to assist I in locating or indexing the valve head correctly, the latter is provided with a short forwardly projecting tab 50 which may be brought into alignment with any one of three indexing slots..52 cut into the top of the overcap 20 adjacent the opening 18 through which the top portion of the spray head projects. To index the spray headl6 the upper portion thereof is grasped by the fingers thus lifting the spray head 16 upwardly until the latter is clear of the top of the valve stem 12. At this point tab 50 is slightly above the top surface of the overcap and the spray head 16 may then be pivoted or indexed around until the tab 50 is aligned with the indexing slot 52 corresponding to the spray pattern desired. To assist in selecting the correct spray pattern, suitable indicia 54 are provided on the overcap 20 adjacent indexing slots 52 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. At this point, the valve stem 12 will be aligned with that inlet port 36 which communicates with the nozzle outlet aperture having the desired spray pattern and said nozzle outlet will be aligned with the frontal outlet opening 27 in overcap 20. The spray head may then be depressed downwardly by finger pressure on the upper end thereof thus causing the top part of valve stem 12 to enter into the inletport 36 aligned therewith thereby to define a path of fluid communication therebetween. Upon further depression of the spray head 16, valve stem 12, which engages shoulder 27 in the spray head,

is also depressed downwardly. This causes the outlet or discharge control valve to open whereupon the pressurized contents of the container pass along said path of fluid communication and outwardly of the selected nozzle aperture and outlet opening 27 in overcap 20 to produce the desired spray pattern. Spraying continues until manual pressure on the spray head is released. To change the spray pattern, the spray head 16 may simply be lifted up and the above described procedure repeated. Naturally, it will not normally be necessary to change the spray pattern each time the device is used; if no spray pattern change is required, simple depression of the spray head 16 is all that is required to effect operation of the device.

It is to be understood that the above disclosure of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been made onlyby way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. Apparatus capable of dispensing liquid in a plurality of spray patterns comprising: an aerosolcontainer having an upwardly directed valve stem mounted on the top thereof and adapted, upon actuation, to open a normally closed discharge control valve mounted on the container to effect discharge of the contents of said container through said valve stem, and a spray head mounted on said container and having a plurality of nozzle outlet apertures therein with eachnozzle aperture adapted to produce a predetermined spray pattern different from the others, the spray head further having a plurality of inlet ports therein with each inlet port communicating with an associated one of said nozzle apertures, means mounting said spray head for rotational indexing movement about a pivot axis spaced from and generally parallel to said valve stem to a plu-- rality of predetermined positionseach corresponding to a desired one of the predetermined spray patterns, said inlet ports being arranged such that they lie in spaced relation on a circular arc whose center is at said pivot axis suchthat upon rotational movement of the spray head to any one of said predetermined positions the valve stem and that inlet port which communicates with the nozzle aperture having the desired spray pattern are brought into substantial alignment with one another, said means mounting said spray head further being arranged to provide rectilinear valve stem actuating movement parallel to said pivot axis such that when said valve stem actuating movement of the spray head is effected with the latter indexed to any one of said predetermined positions the aligned inlet port and valve stem are brought together to define a path of fluid communication therebetween with said ports and said valve stem being constructed to cooperate with one another to depress said valve stem to effect release of the contents of said container with said contents passing along said path of fluid communication and outwardly of the nozzle aperture having the desired spray pattern.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising indexing means arranged to assist in manually indexing said spray head to any one of said predetermined positions.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further including overcap means mounted on said container and enclosing said valve stem and thelower portion of said spray head while leaving the upper portion of the latter exposed for manual manipulation thereof, said overcap having an opening therein arranged such that the nozzle aperture having the spray pattern desired comes into alignment therewith when the spray head has been indexed to one of said plurality of predetermined positions and actuation of the valve stem has taken place.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said indexing means comprise indexing elements defined on said overcap means and on said spray head and adapted to cooperate with each other to define each of said predetermined positions.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including overcap means mounted on said container and enclosing said valve stem and the lower portion of said spray head while leaving the upper portion of the latter exposed for manual manipulation thereof, said means mounting said spray head for said indexing movement and said valve stem actuating movement comprising a pivot axle mounted within a sleeve centered at and extending along said pivot axis to permit rotational and rectilinear movement to take place, one of said last mentioned components being secured to said overcap and the other being secured to said spray head.

6. Apparatus for dispensing fluid in any one of a plurality of spray patterns and adapted for use with an aerosol container having an upwardly directed valve stem mounted on the top thereof which is adapted, upon actuation, to open a normally closed discharge control valve mounted on the container to effect discharge of the contents of said container through said valve stem, said apparatus comprising a spray head having a plurality of nozzle outlet apertures therein with each nozzle aperture adapted to produce a respective one of a plurality of desired different spray patterns and a plurality of inlet ports in said spray head each communicating with an associated one of said outlet apertures, means for mounting said spray head on an aerosol container and defining a pivot axis laterally off set from said valve stem when said apparatus is mounted on said container for permitting rotational indexing motion of the spray head to a plurality of angular positions each corresponding to one of said spray patterns upon manual manipulation of said spray head, said inlet ports being arranged in spaced relation tosaid pivot axis on a circular arc whose center is at said pivot axis such that at each said angular position, that inlet port having the desired spray pattern is brought into alignment with said valve stem, said means for mounting the spray head further being arranged to permit rectilinear valve stem actuating movement thereof parallel to said pivot aids, such that when valve stem actuating motion is effected, a path of fluid communication can be established between said valve stem and the inlet port aligned therewith and said valve actuated so that the contents of said container can pass outwardly of that one of the nozzle apertures having the spray pattern desired.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the mounting means for said spray head is associated with overcap means adapted to be mounted on said container in such a way as to enclose said valve stem, the lower portion of said spray head being partially enclosed by said overcap and the upper portion of the latter being exposed for manual manipulation thereof, said mounting means comprising sleeve and axle means for mounting said spray head to said overcap and permitting both said rotational indexing movement and said rectilinear valve actuating motion of said spray head.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 further including indexing elements defined on said overcap means and on said spray head and adapted to cooperate with each other to define each of said predetermined positions.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said indexing means are arranged to permit valve actuating motion of said spray head only when the latter has been indexed to one of said predetermined positions. 

1. Apparatus capable of dispensing liquid in a plurality of spray patterns comprising: an aerosol container having an upwardly directed valve stem mounted on the top thereof and adapted, upon actuation, to open a normally closed discharge control valve mounted on the container to effect discharge of the contents of said container through said valve stem, and a spray head mounted on said container and having a plurality of nozzle outlet apertures therein with each nozzle aperture adapted to produce a predetermined spray pattern different from the others, the spray head further having a plurality of inlet ports therein with each inlet port communicating with an associated one of said nozzle apertures, means mounting said spray head for rotational indexing movement about a pivot axis spaced from and generally parallel to said valve stem to a plurality of predetermined positions each corresponding to a desired one of the predetermined spray patterns, said inlet ports being arranged such that they lie in spaced relation on a circular arc whose center is at said pivot axis such that upon rotational movement of the spray head to any one of said predetermined positions the valve stem and that inlet port which communicates with the nozzle aperture having the desired spray pattern are brought into substantial alignment with one another, said means mounting said spray head further being arranged to provide rectilinear valve stem actuating movement parallel to said pivot axis such that when said valve stem actuating movement of the spray head is effected with the latter indexed to any one of said predetermined positions the aligned inlet port and valve stem are brought together to define a path of fluid communication therebetween with said ports and said valve stem being constructed to cooperatE with one another to depress said valve stem to effect release of the contents of said container with said contents passing along said path of fluid communication and outwardly of the nozzle aperture having the desired spray pattern.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising indexing means arranged to assist in manually indexing said spray head to any one of said predetermined positions.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further including overcap means mounted on said container and enclosing said valve stem and the lower portion of said spray head while leaving the upper portion of the latter exposed for manual manipulation thereof, said overcap having an opening therein arranged such that the nozzle aperture having the spray pattern desired comes into alignment therewith when the spray head has been indexed to one of said plurality of predetermined positions and actuation of the valve stem has taken place.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said indexing means comprise indexing elements defined on said overcap means and on said spray head and adapted to cooperate with each other to define each of said predetermined positions.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including overcap means mounted on said container and enclosing said valve stem and the lower portion of said spray head while leaving the upper portion of the latter exposed for manual manipulation thereof, said means mounting said spray head for said indexing movement and said valve stem actuating movement comprising a pivot axle mounted within a sleeve centered at and extending along said pivot axis to permit rotational and rectilinear movement to take place, one of said last mentioned components being secured to said overcap and the other being secured to said spray head.
 6. Apparatus for dispensing fluid in any one of a plurality of spray patterns and adapted for use with an aerosol container having an upwardly directed valve stem mounted on the top thereof which is adapted, upon actuation, to open a normally closed discharge control valve mounted on the container to effect discharge of the contents of said container through said valve stem, said apparatus comprising a spray head having a plurality of nozzle outlet apertures therein with each nozzle aperture adapted to produce a respective one of a plurality of desired different spray patterns and a plurality of inlet ports in said spray head each communicating with an associated one of said outlet apertures, means for mounting said spray head on an aerosol container and defining a pivot axis laterally offset from said valve stem when said apparatus is mounted on said container for permitting rotational indexing motion of the spray head to a plurality of angular positions each corresponding to one of said spray patterns upon manual manipulation of said spray head, said inlet ports being arranged in spaced relation to said pivot axis on a circular arc whose center is at said pivot axis such that at each said angular position, that inlet port having the desired spray pattern is brought into alignment with said valve stem, said means for mounting the spray head further being arranged to permit rectilinear valve stem actuating movement thereof parallel to said pivot axis, such that when valve stem actuating motion is effected, a path of fluid communication can be established between said valve stem and the inlet port aligned therewith and said valve actuated so that the contents of said container can pass outwardly of that one of the nozzle apertures having the spray pattern desired.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the mounting means for said spray head is associated with overcap means adapted to be mounted on said container in such a way as to enclose said valve stem, the lower portion of said spray head being partially enclosed by said overcap and the upper portion of the latter being exposed for manual manipulation thereof, said mounting means comprising sleeve and axle means for mounting said spray head to said overcaP and permitting both said rotational indexing movement and said rectilinear valve actuating motion of said spray head.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 further including indexing elements defined on said overcap means and on said spray head and adapted to cooperate with each other to define each of said predetermined positions.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said indexing means are arranged to permit valve actuating motion of said spray head only when the latter has been indexed to one of said predetermined positions. 